Home discomforts have teams struggling in play-offs
NHL sides finding it difficult to win on own ice
Having home ice is supposed to be an advantage in the NHL. So far in the 2018 play-offs, the only guarantee to playing at home is a monochrome backdrop provided by fans in team-specific T-shirts.
Consider the following: — The Pittsburgh Penguins finished with the second-worst road record among the 16 playoff teams. Then the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions ripped off three wins in Philadelphia to kick-start their pursuit of a three-peat and backed it up with another victory in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semi-final series in Washington.
— The Capitals dropped Games 1 and 2 at home in overtime against Columbus in the opening round only to beat the Blue Jackets three times in Columbus on their way to advancing to the NHL’s final eight for the fourth consecutive year.
— Winnipeg posted an NHLhigh 32 wins on home ice. One of their seven regulation home losses, however, was a wild 6-5 setback at the hands of Nashville in February. The Predators’ triumph helped them win the Presidents Trophy and guarantee home ice through the playoffs. The Jets, of course, won the series opener in Nashville to steal that advantage.
Home teams are just 26-26 so far in the play-offs up to Tuesday.
Asked why the games have become a coin flip regardless of venue, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan — whose team was outplayed at PPG Paints Arena by Philadelphia in Game 2 and Game 5 in the opening round — admits he can’t really come up with a reason.
“I don’t know if I have answer for you that makes sense,” Sullivan said Monday. “Sometimes when teams go on the road, they have tendency to simplify their game.”
Predators forward Nick Bonino said: “The road does offer the visiting team a sense of routine. There aren’t as many friends or family around. No kids waking up in the middle of the night. Just wake up, suit up and go play.”